HARTLERPOOL NHS foundation trust said it is committed to making healthcare on Teesside “the envy of the world” after plans for a £500m hospital on Wynyard Business Park were approved.

The world class hospital is part of the ‘momentum: pathways to healthcare programme’ which aims to provide more care in people’s homes or communities.

Under the plans, people in Hartlepool, Stockton and parts of Easington and Sedgefield will have access to three integrated health care centres and an enhanced GP practice, as well as the hospital, which will provide 60% of the services currently delivered in the University Hospitals of North Tees and Hartlepool.

The new hospital raised concerns over traffic problems on the A689 and A19 but pledges have been made to improve the road network and subsidise bus services to the hospital.

Speaking after the meeting chief executive of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust Alan Foster said: “We are absolutely delighted the application for outline planning permission has been approved by Hartlepool Borough Council.

“We are committed to improving healthcare in our area under the momentum: pathways to healthcare programme and the hospital will be the final piece of the jigsaw.”

Mr Foster added Teesside’s healthcare system would not only be the envy of the country, but the envy of the world, with services moving into or closer to people’s homes backed up by a new hospital to care for people “only when they really need to be there.”

“This is another important milestone to getting the hospital and we now look forward to the case for the hospital being heard by the Department of Health,” said Mr Foster.

The case for the hospital will now be dealt with at a national level by health secretary Andy Burnham MP, with £450m towards the hospital expected to come from the public purse.